Miguel Rodriguez and Sheila Mastropietro

00:07 Hi, my name is Miguel Rodriguez. And

00:12 I'm 58 years old and 58 years old. And I'm from Lancaster or recording from Lancaster City and

00:24 Today is Sunday, August 28th.

00:30 19 2021.

00:36 Hi, my name is Sheila and I am 67 years old. Today's date is Sunday, August 29th, 2021. I'm recording from Lancaster with Miguel. Who is that Cuban entrance that I resettled in my through my off, his church World Service in 1998.

01:01 Miguel. I'm going to ask you the first question when you came. I remember that you were bound and determined to learn English. Get a job and be successful.

01:12 What gave you that drives? And and now that you're a US citizen, was it worth it?

01:22 I would say yes, and since I got here in America, my

01:29 Object. Or

01:32 Thinking all the time was a positive way. If you are here in America, you should speak in English. And that's the best way to communicate and grow up in. Anyways, specially up here at the north of the United States where you should speak English.

01:53 And in also, one of the things that I was going to do is the most trait that I can do in. I'm ready to be to have a better life that I I have in Cuba.

02:10 I put all my effort to be good and I remember the first time was so hard, but in my wife sometimes she was crying when she sold me the way. I was in Cuba working as engineer in the way. I was here and I say, oh no, I'm perfectly fine. I'm okay. And you will, I'm going to show you that. I'm going to be I'm going to grow up in that company. And we going to have a better life right here that in Cuba.

02:47 And you did. And I remember how you told me in the beginning. We don't want to hang around with other Cubans. You don't have to introduce us to other Cubans. We want to learn English. I want to be an American. I remember that, yes, maybe that was a little ugly saying that, but when I was 19 years old, I went to Russia to do my college. I'm about to come by, when I was 20 25 and a half.

03:18 Why is pain Moto to my?

03:20 Youngest time.

03:23 In different culture.

03:25 And when I'm back to Cuba, I feel completely empty. I did ask sorb a lot of Russian culture.

03:35 Am from Cuba, even in Cuba? I was stung somebody that they don't recognize even talking in Spanish and my

03:49 Education level. I feel like it was a little higher. I'm sorry to say that and

03:57 A lot, a lot of time to

04:01 Be close to Cuban, even to my family, but that was one of the things that I told that this Uber, is not at my place now, and I was trying to look for the way to get out from Cuba or any rate to another country where I found myself, feeling the way I want to read me. I never thought that Angela Ramirez United States different from other Cubans. If you had seen more of the world than most Cubans who are coming at the time or, you know, directly from Cuba and hadn't traveled at all at that time. So that's one thing that made you different and also that that you had a second higher education.

04:55 Not too. But that the other the most important thing and I think made you different made you and and your wife and I used to have was that you were just determined to make it work. If you knew you knew the work that you seem to know what it was going to until and you didn't expect it to be easy. So and that was to me. That what you didn't look to me all the time for. How am I going to do the timing from the very beginning you just had that, like you said yourself, I can do this really impressive.

05:29 I really appreciate it. You as a person as a sponsor. As a helper from the beginning, you you have someplace in my life in my wife life to that. We respect. We never wait to see a person like you when we got here in America.

05:51 In the in Cuba, the advertisements about United States are horrible in Cuba. They are stalking. Yeah, you can imagine how scary it was for us when we got here in.

06:09 See that a person? It's waiting for us at the airport. She's trying to do the best you speak some Spanish to help.

06:20 What's something like that? You will never forget, but after that, I understand that, when you any condition, you have a new country. You will not respect you. How are you doing?

06:36 And that way, we'll make you easy to help us.

06:40 In what a lot of people.

06:43 That not understand that. The beginning always is very hard and you have to find the way to get out for that's hard time.

06:53 And for me, it was clear that I'm not going to be an engineer or sitting behind a desk instead of Saturday. So I, I told my wife, if you have to go and clean dishes, I'm going to do.

07:09 And that's the way I was prepared and delete me was so hard. And at that time, when I'm start working at the company Tyson Food, I was close to a Puerto Rican guy and he told me

07:29 Who are you? He wants to know who I am and then he say I was talking to him and he said that's lady. You see right there. She's a Russian Lady.

07:39 In the he introduces in from there.

07:45 I feel like I have a chance to use my language. You grabbed you cuz she was helping me in warning here. In there. You better do this. You better do that. Don't listen days. Listen, this way, so she helped me out a lot, still our friends, my wife, and I live in New York and no matter what we keep in touch.

08:13 In the

08:15 Yes. She also I will never forget her generosity helping us at that time. And we were talking all the time in Russian language. For example, I will say I have like three checks in my hands and I don't I don't know how go and open an account.

08:38 And she told me in Russian language. You should do this way. And the next day, I went to the bank. I remember what score State and she's in. I say, I would like to open a checking account and I said that I was completely zero.

08:55 In English. And guess what? I did not see that they all the checks. I bet you never thought you'd come to America and be speaking Russian right. Right in helping a lot yet year they offer me if Frank's language and I took it the French language not having help me out like you right here in Lancaster and in Lancaster, we're settled. So, you know so many people and what they were so many Russian Christians and that we resettled in the 80s and 90s. Oh, yeah. You never thought that the small town like Lancaster might have

09:47 Russian figures. But I was good and safe my life to at work. Because the HR manager, she used to call me or pull off from the work position and I was interpreter for a whole night from Spanish to Russian from Russian to English and not help me to training. Also do my English. You know, I never, I never really asked you, I don't think like, what was your life like in Cuba? What was it that made you like know that we have to leave this place? And I don't think I ever asked you what what it was like or what was it that really pushed you and said, I'm leaving for America.

10:34 Won't work. Sheila a few remember in 1994. There was a lot of Cubans that they even you can call Rose. They used to go today. Open ocean, just to immigrate to United States and at that time I don't want to go to details, but will their political issues in Cuba and milk joint on that time. He was a president and he open the boards from Cubans.

11:08 And I told him I was.

11:12 I got Time dating to my wife and I say I'm not going to be a shark me and I remember when I'm back home that day from work and one of the days in the corner of the newspaper. I see that announcement. From United States Embassy.

11:32 That I it's possible to apply for a Visa to those Cubans that completely has zero family in United States.

11:42 It was in 1994, and I didn't apply.

11:46 And I dropped the information of application to the United States, post mail in only on 1997. I got all the formulations of paper for illegal Visa. We did that everything. And guess what after the interview about I was denied completely that was in August 1997 in disc uses or dead when I say, why do the council you say? You have their privilege?

12:21 Go to Russia. You have a master, you have you speak Russian. You are a teacher, the Russian language teacher. You have you speak, French? Because I, I put in my application, the truth. I was honest.

12:38 And in, and I told him, well, I think if you have an open door to be, highly educated, you will take the opportunities. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That was the, the things that time. I was a supervisor Department of project in Cuban.

13:02 And I was involved in a lot of projects.

13:07 Actually, I finish then before, I they kick me out from the work. Because when you apply for American visa, does it work thing. You going to do in your life in Cuba?

13:21 In.

13:24 I see myself a home without any job.

13:28 In, in the area. Where are you leaving Cuba before a Cuban? Revolution, was a war with high life level. I will say in there was a friend and he was a

13:52 From 1955 to 1959. He was a minister. I don't remember my neighbor and I remember one of the day he stopped me and was talking to me and he said I'm going to help you. I'm going to we have to go to the American Embassy and I'm going to have an interview or conversation with somebody right there. What we did and I remember was a young American guy and he stopped talking cool. Passed away already. He told him, please. Clear English. And I never will forget that. I say, please stop.

14:38 You need to learn a lot from about Cuban Revolution. You do not know anything about human revolution.

14:48 And he step up and sickness. Call Miguel.

14:52 And guess what?

14:54 Work, cuz I got the next day.

14:59 I will say, I love her that we'd let her where you? Splain what happened? And review my case. I did nothing.

15:13 December 17th, 1997 in a Harbour Allison memory.

15:23 1998 21st. I got a telegram from my Visa and my wife is not happy.

15:36 Are you scared about that? Cuz then it was real and you had to go.

15:43 Yes, and no.

15:45 One because from one point because I never thought that I'm going to immigrate United States.

15:54 In front of the site. I was so happy because I will say trash in Cuba after you apply for American visa will have more while we. Then I was

16:10 What's I will sector level citizen in Cuba?

16:16 Mr. Thank God that American Open Hands in and what did you think? When you came to Lancaster after that night at the airport? It was night. And then the next morning you woke up in your new apartment and you had to go out and do the city. You didn't know. Okay, that's very nice question. Cuz when we, we fall from Miami to Fitchburg and from Fitchburg to Lancaster in, I

16:54 When I was in was in was in Imperial that time, I met a lady knowing me and I say, I would like to go to a place.

17:07 Where I can see snow. I can see a whole very romantic. So, you know what? I have a place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Saturday. So we, when we flow and I came from and I being relieved, I was I was leaving you buying about a city building downtown.

17:38 And I look at on my wife, Nancy. Are we going? I think we're going to work at the farm when we got here and you were driving back to, I don't know what to wear and I can my wife, you see a house right here in another one after a mild ear and they're in when we got here and say,

18:05 What is this?

18:11 From the way was in Cuba, even Russia.

18:16 In the when you left. Did that night. I will say, like about 10 and close the door. The only thing, my wife and I we did was crying.

18:30 Lying all the time. We work line, but my wife is a hero in the next day. She wake up and she start cleaning the apartment.

18:40 In everything and she say, you know what we decided to come to United States and we have to fight the best.

18:52 That's why can we stop crying?

18:55 Was staring at that time. Because in Cuba, they they telling you all the time. If you going out the street, there's somebody that will take a knife and we got you back or we'll kill you. So, we were so scary walking to your office and look in the back all the time.

19:17 But then, I told my wife, I remember the neighborhood. They say hi. Hello and ask him my wife, this your friendly. They are good people. What they say, that ain't you? So I don't starve.

19:31 Given the chance to relax in a store then vitamins and then well, it was so nice. Almost everyday meet you. You to class two different places and that was amazing. I say how

19:48 We just got here in.

19:51 We don't have to pay for anything right away and we got money and we got help or and we got open Dorsey and their Thanksgiving to you, but it's amazing. Yeah, it's completely different. But yeah, what

20:08 But now, I'm about to this place that I, when we going to Florida, or we going to somewhere in America is that, you know what, I'm back to my old Lancaster, you know, a lot of we had a lot of Cubans coming at that time to CWS and many of them once they realize where they were virtually in the middle of nowhere and they felt like no other Cubans is what they felt like. Many of them. Wanted to return to Miami, where there were a lot of Cubans.

20:43 So they didn't want to return to Cuba but they did want to go back to Miami. But I remember that you and I he's you sent you like Lancaster. It was quiet. It was a good place for a family. So there were some people like that. But I remember you were like one of the first to you were just happy to be here and you didn't want to be anywhere else. You know, I'm so glad that you stayed and you know, you you added a lot to to our community was really good to have you. That's one of the things you I didn't know that you cried you both cried because I remember thinking of others to come and and content already.

21:26 Other people were jittery. So I knew you weren't scared, but I'm glad I didn't know that at the time I would have felt so bad. She like what one of the things that I

21:42 I say I would like to like a, a single family.

21:48 Keep away from some Cubans. And I will say, when you have a person or a Cubans that you feel like it, when you talkin about something, they not understand. When you say, I know how to play the piano and they, they looking at you.

22:12 You will say, well, this is not the people that you would like to be a friends, Etc. That's one of the things that I say. Well, I don't need that. I said, my wife. I don't need any people around. Not understand me. That's why I have a Cuban friends. Unfortunately. They moved from here down to Florida. We keep contact, but I do see that you will look.

22:40 I would say a friend for the friends group that you will say I'm ft in.

22:47 And that was one of the thing that I say. Well, let's see, in the future with monthly. It currently mostly friends are our friends are Americans.

22:58 In Russians, in some Cuban in the in the thing was that I remember that day. I can tell you that you call me to help with a group of Cubans that they just got here.

23:16 When I was in helping you, and trying to, because they can very nervous.

23:24 English million questions, and I remember we were in that office and you were by yourself and I say to those Cubans that he was a little time, you feel like an okay. I'm feeling more stronger now and said she wasn't, do we have to work.

23:50 I look at her and say.

23:53 Of course. Yes. I thought that America is Maria.

24:00 The quality of the life is very high and you don't have to work, you going to have help from government, you know, architect.

24:11 Professional in, she asked me those questions and I'll tell you what, I think you are in the wrong place, and you should be back to Cuba.

24:21 Because Jimmy was a very, a shocking moment that you do not understand where you are, and where you come from.

24:33 I never see that you going to somewhere and you don't have to fight for yourself. What you got? What? You got to have a better life and you have those questions when I was so glad to help you out the beginning with those Cubans different circumstances, but it, but yeah, it's hard. I can imagine to come somewhere brand new and then you don't know, you don't know what's going to happen. Next people at all kinds of ideas about what it would be like once they got to America, but now I want to I want to talk about you son, and I just met him eight years old and I wonder what what do you tell Mikey about Cuba and and are you sorry that he can't grow up.

25:27 In the cube with your friends in town and Cuba. The first time we took him to Cuba.

25:35 Was when he was 3 years old.

25:39 And I remember we were in the car and he was the first school get out from the car and he walking to my mother's house completely to the back and guess what he say in English. Hello. I'm here.

26:00 Cuba will used to say, block will call your blood.

26:08 In my mom, you say that's a Miguel song.

26:13 That's why she told me in after that and I she recognized him and pictures in Michael, so family. So, friendly Talking Ethan people in. I want that was the first time, the first impression you feel like I'm in the Cuban family. That was a big thing. I was so happy and still not. We being like

26:42 Two more times.

26:44 The only thing he don't doesn't like you but is the weather is very hot in July August what he recognized himself between Cubans and he knows that in Cuba people speak Spanish.

27:03 In what he plays. He was playing around with kids, even number where they not understand him and he was happy.

27:15 In. That was so nice and I'm happy. I'm keeping very nice feeling about that because I wasn't prepared him for that. We just told him that we're going to Cuba and there's a lot of family. Is that enough?

27:30 In my,

27:35 Nephews and nieces that used to walk around without shoes. And here you go. Michael was the first there was started walking without you, you know, it's so good that he has, he has such a nice idea of Cuba and and he'll never he'll never know how you felt like you didn't belong there that you were treated like trash, you know, once they knew you wanted to leave and he'll never ever have to, have to make a decision. Like, you did probably say he's proud to be American, no matter what some Cubans religion parents, what? Because that when we got here from from Cuba Forest Temple,

28:23 And at the board, they stop off passport. I was a question. How long you been you by Saturday Saturday. He say, I'm in America. I'm from Pennsylvania. That's Michael Taylor.

28:41 In and you see the interaction between the officer and Michael is in Christ. He say I'm going, I'm going with you to Cuba belong to here.

28:56 Yeah, I'm still my wife State because I'm speak to him in Spanish.

29:05 And when I see the heat, don't get it or don't understand. Going over in in English and sometimes in Russian language. I'm talking to my nephew who is a Russian guy and his family in Russian language and they talking to him. How are you? How are you doing that? The school and he's back in English. So that means that he understand some.

29:41 He's personally flying within you. Don't see that they are stranger or speak different.

29:49 Will steal more time that I will sit with him and bring a lot from Cuba. And why we took the decision to come over there.

30:04 Lexi.

30:08 Do you have any questions for me?

30:11 No, she lied. I just appreciate it the way you being to us and I 100% understand your job.

30:21 That.

30:23 Even if we as an immigrant, we'll get together and say we have to pay a million-dollar to Sheila.

30:34 There never will be complete your ass word or you help to us. It's amazing something that you never will expect to see when you are an immigrant.

30:49 And your support.

30:53 You family way to be specially to us.

31:00 I will never forget that you will scream my heart forever. Thank you. That's really that means a lot to me. But I remember that. I I was Raising. I was married and raising two young girls went. When you came and a lot of people felt like they told me that this is my job, of course, raising two young girl. There was a lot behind there and

31:28 Having the responsibility of meeting new people like you and I nice and you know, you know, 15 times that many people. It was a lot of money. It was it was stressful as responsibilities.

31:42 I really appreciated you and Anais being what I thought at the time was so calm, and you cared about me and you you recognize that, I had a lot to do outside of my work in the office, and would always ask me about my husband and my family met my daughters. When they were little. And I appreciated that about you, that kind of made a different, you know, about their many other people that I resemble. I wasn't just a way to, you know, I felt like I had to give a lot at work and you recognize like, oh, you have a harder life. So what's that? Like and I appreciated that was telling us song. You have to be humble and be happy with what you have for Italy.

32:39 In at that time, we have you.

32:42 The closest family, I will say. But at the same time, I told that you have a lot of things to do, not only for us.

32:53 So it's like a, I've been helping you getting a new, a job.

32:59 Because what's a job?

33:02 And why? Why not? Just complain. All Sheila? I don't like or oh my no. No, thank you or no.

33:13 That was great to meet you, and have you with us?

33:20 Help him to step on.

33:24 Different ways.

33:31 When I show step p.m. In.

33:36 Didn't they location labor of the people right? There is very low.

33:40 And I say, oh my gosh, where we are, where I am.

33:46 And then I say, well, I have a

33:51 Skills to go lower when it isn't necessary or go up when it's necessary and I went low. Yes was very hard. Not speaking English. Hanging chickens. After having my hands, a pencil to drawing production lines.

34:15 And my hands were become a real man hands and I told my wife, she was saying stop working. I am only one with work work as a. Are you kidding me? No way. I say you will see. I need to grow up right there. And that's what I did at the time there weren't as many jobs like as there are now and there was such a need for jobs at at Tyson Food and I really wanted something more for you for everybody. I mean, nobody that we recycle really wants that job.

34:56 And many people will quit but I I was told at the time it just like always waiting for whoever I put in Tyson to come back and say I quit yesterday, but you didn't. But now you're very successful at the same place, right? And what's your job now?

35:17 Production supervisor on 2nd shift, I am in charge of two production lines in the launch. That student housing at the school right now, have a high responsibility to make the quality floor before then. And I feel like I'm professional to Cuba in a place where there was an investigation for a Foods.

35:50 What are right here? I feel like I'm being in the same way.

35:55 And I feel like I'm doing a lot of much, much better than Cuba, because you see the results.

36:03 In India. Leave me. I was thinking that I'm going to be a supervisor, as many of their. What all I did was pray, the different ways to be in. I mean training alarm. Not only

36:25 Andy Frain supervisor for another country, like Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic. We speak the same language even currently, there's a manager's shift manager and they see me and they do like that, you're the man, we going, or we get together for any training. There's one always that list the hands and say here in the room is a person. The Tyson he deserve a high respect from Tyson's food in. Is that guy right there? Is that what I want for four people? At when, when we resettled refugees. I want, not only that they're financially successful. As you were very early on bought a house early on

37:24 But that they have a job enjoy and a job where they're respected and also have the opportunities that I think you are. One that took advantage of opportunities that that are here that all Americans have. And that's that is a successful resettlement to me and that you're and your son. What what he'll be able to have as far as education job opportunities travel. That's why I am so happy and you know, it really wasn't me. I you know it when I think it was my responsibility, but it wasn't really you. You took on so much and did so much you supply us with a lot a lot.

38:09 So we are greatly appreciated you and I think you and I made it happen. We are we are not a millionaire. We are rich because we have you, we have a good friends.

38:29 We made that good for people around.

38:32 That's everything. Thank you to you a lot for another 30 years.